In recent years this expression has been adopted by Ulster-Scots enthusiasts as a form of greeting or welcome. It has been characterised by some academics as a ‘revivalist’ rather than a traditional Ulster-Scots expression. It does appear, however, in poetry, both Scots and Ulster-Scots.

The poet James Orr (1770-1816) employed it in his poem about the 1798 Rebellion, ‘Donegore Hill’. When one of the would-be rebels who has fled the battlefield returns home, his wife expresses her relief at seeing him again thus:

Photo: Donegore Hill, near Templepatrick. On 7th June 1798 it was the mustering ground for the United Irishmen who rose in Rebellion, led by Henry Joy McCracken.

Robert Burns also used this expression in
his famous ‘Address to the Haggis’, recited
at Burns Suppers. These are held on
January 25th, to celebrate Burns’s birthday
with traditional Scottish food and drink,
including haggis, turnip, potatoes and whisky.
Burns began the ‘Address’ with:

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie faceGreat Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race!

Jack:

Hi ye.

Sarah:

Hi ye.

Bob:

Guid to see ye.

Fiona:

Guid to see ye. Hoo ur ye daein?

When we want to ask how someone is we can say:'Hoo ur ye daein?', 'Hoo's things?' or 'Whit wye ur ye?'
Replies can vary:

'No that guid' – 'not great'

'Mair nor middlin' – 'average'

'Brave an guid' – 'I’m fine/pretty well'

Read how some friends use these and some further expressions when they meet:

* One is the only numeral which has two completely different forms. When it is being used as a noun it is ‘yin’ or ‘ane’
but there is an older literary usage of ‘ae’ or ‘yae’ when it is being used as an adjective - eg Burns’ song “Ae fond kiss”.

There are several ways to do this. If is it evening we might say ‘Guid nicht’; or at any time of day we could say ‘Sae lang noo’. ‘Tak tent’, meaning ‘take care’, is another way of taking your leave. A more archaic and literary leave-taking is to use ‘Sonse faa ye’.